In Nonthaburi, police raided a famous temple by the Chao Phraya River and arrested three monks found with 25 methamphetamine pills. They claimed they bought the drugs from workers at the temple and used them because they were tired from restoring the temple.
At 19:00 on 19 Oct 2026 at Chaiyaphruek Police Station in Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi, Police Colonel Sa-at Dadtuyawat, acting superintendent, along with Deputy Superintendent Akrapat Jaiwanich, Investigation Officer Chatwat Siribenjasak, and other investigators arrested three monks identified as Mr. Lamyai, also known as Tee Saengmuang, 66; Mr. Saenkom, also known as Kom Boriboon, 55; and Mr. Sakonsak, also known as Tong Detchrung, 44, after finding a total of 25 meth pills.
This arrest followed a complaint received via the complaint management system hotline 1111 of the Office of the Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister, from an anonymous source reporting that monks were secretly selling and using methamphetamine at a well-known temple by the Chao Phraya River in Khlong Phra Udom Subdistrict, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi. Investigators went to the site and found Mr. Lamyai standing nervously in front of a room inside the temple hall, attempting to flee. Officers identified themselves with Narcotics Suppression official badges and requested to search, showing transparency to gain the suspect's trust before proceeding.
The search found 23 meth pills hidden inside a drawer on a shelf next to the bed in the room. Mr. Lamyai admitted all the drugs belonged to him and was immediately defrocked.
Mr. Lamyai voluntarily provided a urine sample for preliminary drug testing, which was positive. He was then taken to Pak Kret 2 Hospital for confirmation, where laboratory tests confirmed the presence of methamphetamine in his urine.
During expanded questioning, Mr. Lamyai, or Tee, said he bought the meth from a man nicknamed “Nai Jeng,” about 40 years old, who worked at the temple. He bought bags costing 5,000 baht each, each containing about 200 pills, and had used some, leaving 23 pills. The other two suspects, Mr. Saenkom (Kom) and Mr. Sakonsak (Tong), were found with one pill each, hidden on their persons and in their monks' quarters.
Mr. Lamyai told reporters that he had previously been ordained for six Buddhist seasons and later worked helping maintain and restore the temple. He claimed the work was very tiring and physically demanding, so he decided to use meth daily to relieve fatigue.
He added that he intends not to return to monkhood and wishes to quit drug use. He apologized for damaging the reputation of the temple and Buddhism.
Initially, officials charged all three with possession and use of Category 1 narcotics (methamphetamine) without authorization. They were taken with the evidence to the prosecutor's office for legal action. The suspects stated they do not wish to undergo drug treatment or rehabilitation.